Adrian Cronauer revealed that he and Williams were deliberately kept apart during the filming of the movie so that the Holllywood legend would not simply mimic him

The DJ portrayed by Robin Williams in 'Good Morning Vietnam' says he was left "gobsmacked" by news of the star's death.

Speaking after new of Williams' death broke yesterday, Adrian Cronauer revealed that the 63-year-old Holllywood legend was deliberately kept away from him during filming of the 1987 movie to avoid him directly mimicking the DJ.

The DJ, who co-wrote the original story for the film, which was based on his experiences as a DJ for US forces during the Vietnam war from 1965 to 1966, said Williams' really played himself in the move - rather than Cronauer.

Williams' performance in Good Morning Vietnam is widely seen as one of his finest.

Cronauer told the BBC: "I have to say that he did not play me [in the film], he played a character named Adrian Cronauer who shared a few of my experiences in Vietnam but he was really playing Robin Williams which he really does best – and he did it beautifully.

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Performance: Williams in a scene from the film 'Good Morning, Vietnam'

“Barry Levenson the director was very much afraid that being an intuitive mimic, if robin and I met during the filming he would subconsciously feel that he should be doing an imitation of me which would change his characterisation.

“So I wasn't even allowed on set. The first time we were allowed to meet each other was when the film premiered in New York."

Cronauer revealed that the evening the film was premiered he was finally introduced to Williams.

Williams was found dead by his personal assistant on Monday at his waterfront home in Tiburon, near San Francisco.

He was partially clothed and had hanged himself while in a seated position. He also had minor wounds on his left wrist and a pocket knife was nearby.

Grateful for the life of Robin Williams, a true talent and a wonderful friend. He will be missed by so many.

During a press conference yesterday, Lieutenant Keith Boyd of the Marin County coroner’s office said: “The preliminary results of the forensic ­examination supported ­physical signs that Mr Williams’ life ended from asphyxia due to hanging.”

There was no sign of a struggle, Mr Boyd revealed. But police refused to say if Robin left a suicide note or whether any drugs were found nearby. Toxicology tests will be carried out later.

The actor had fought battles against booze and drugs in the past but had been sober for 20 years.

His wife Susan Schneider was the last person to see her husband alive on Sunday at 10.30pm when she said good night and went to sleep in a separate bedroom.

She left home the following morning at 10.30 without saying goodbye as she thought he was still sleeping, Mr Boyd added. Robin’s assistant became concerned at not hearing from him and went to his room at 11.45am when she found him dead.

He had not been seen in public since his birthday three weeks ago. His last picture was taken alongside Night at the Museum co-star, Crystal the monkey.

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Tributes yesterday piled up outside his home as fans struggled to come to terms with the death of the popular entertainer, who had been seeking ­treatment for his depression.

Flowers, notes and a small white teddy bear were placed on the pavement that was packed with TV crews.

One letter in a child’s handwriting, surrounded by flickering electric candles, read: “I am sorry Robin Williams died. I loved Mrs Doubtfire. I heard he was a great and a funny guy. Love Fletcher.”

Daughter Zelda posted a moving tribute to her dad on her Instagram page. She posted a quote from The Little Prince writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which read: “You, you alone have the stars as no one else has them...

“In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars are laughing, when you look at the sky at night. You, only you, will have stars that can laugh.” She added underneath: “I love you. I miss you. I’ll try to keep looking up.”

Distraught Susan said: “I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and ­beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken.” As she spoke, friends and neighbours of the couple hugged one another on the quiet residential street.

One, who did not wish to be named, said: “I didn’t know Mr Williams ­personally, but I would occasionally see him walking his dog or riding his bike down the road.

“It wasn’t like having a celebrity in the neighbourhood, he was always very down to earth and very friendly to everyone. He wasn’t an active member of the community, he wasn’t in the local yacht club or anything, but he was always happy to say hello.

“He always seemed like such a happy guy on the surface. Monday’s news came as such a shock.

“It’s so sad. I feel terrible for his family.”

While he may have ­struggled with his finances, Robin had made sure his children would be cared for.

In 2009 the Oscar-winner had drawn up a document outlining their payments but made sure they only received the cash in stages.

When they were 21, they received a third of their trust funds. Four years later they were given half of what was left.

The final instalment is to be paid when they reach 30. It is unclear how much is in the trust, but a US website reports there is a “significant” amount outside of it and Susan will receive a large chunk.

Robin’s 640-acre Napa Valley ranch is still for sale. It is in the Mayacamas Mountains, 90 minutes from San Francisco.

Five years ago, Robin appeared in a movie advising people suffering mental health issues against suicide.

In World’s Greatest Dad he plays a grieving father called Lance Clayton, whose son Kyle has a fascination with auto-erotica and accidentally dies by asphyxiation.

Looking to camera, Robin says: “I am not going to pretend that I know what is going on in the mind of a teenager. If you are that depressed, reach out to someone. And remember, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”